Accelerator for mineral absorption and use thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention has an object to provide an accelerator for mineral absorption and a composition containing the accelerator. The object is solved by providing an accelerator for mineral absorption comprising cyclic tetrasaccharide and/or saccharide derivatives thereof and a composition containing the accelerator.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a novel accelerator for mineralabsorption and use thereof, more particularly, to a novel acceleratorfor mineral absorption, which contains as an effective ingredient anon-reducing saccharide composed of four glucose residues whichcyclically bind each other via the α-1,3 and the α-1,6 linkages, namely,cyclo{→6)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→}(hereinafter, it is called as “cyclic tetrasaccharide”), and/or asaccharide derivative thereof, and a composition containing theaccelerator for mineral absorption.

BACKGROUND ART

Minerals, for example, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron, havebeen being analyzed to be a physiologically important nutrition forliving bodies. Modern people would have to make considerable effort forcontinually attaining the intake of the necessary amounts of mineralseveryday in their food lives. Excessive diet or aging causes breakingdown hormone balances, and excessive intake of instant foods orincreased frequent eating out in food life may cause a chronic mineraldeficiency. Subsequently, the balance between bone-formation andbone-absorption may be broken down. Then, calcium as a main ingredientmay be reduced in calcium-containing tissues such as bones and teeth.Further, bone disorders such as osteoporosis, bone fracture andbackache; tooth-disorders such as dental caries and periodontosis;urinary organ disorders such as nephrolithiasis; circulatory diseasessuch as hypertension and ischemic heart diseases; anemia; diabetes; orreduction of homeostatic function is easily developed.

In order to solve such mineral deficiency, oily vitamins or hormonepreparations such as vitamin D, calcitonin preparations, estrogenpreparations, protein anabolic hormone preparations and bisphosphonatehave been administered in addition to various mineral preparations.Although this method is more effective than a single administration ofminerals, it is not necessarily satisfactory because of its complicatedadministration schedule and fear of side effect due to excessiveadministration of oily vitamins or hormone preparations. In addition,such mineral preparations also have a problem that they may cause therise of blood mineral level when excessively administered.

In consideration with such situation, food business has been developingexploitation of a raw material which is tasty, safe even if administeredevery day, effective on promoting mineral absorption, and capable ofeffectively supplementing minerals in a sufficient daily amount in dailyfood life in a single use or in combination with meals, foods betweenmeals, or health foods. For example, accelerators for mineralabsorption, containing either xylooligosaccharide, mannooligosaccharideor lactuloseoligosaccharide as an effective ingredient, are disclosed inJapanese Patent Publication Kokai Nos. 67575/95, 306093/2002 and205653/94, respectively. A magnesium supplement, containing magnesiumand at least one member selected from the group consisting ofnondigestible oligosaccharide, nondigestible sugar alcohol and dietaryfiber, is disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai No. 69902/95. An agent forstrengthening bone, containing lactosucrose and calcium chondroitinsulfate, is disclosed in Japanese Patent Kokai No. 33668/95. However,some kinds of such raw materials have the following problems when addedto foods and beverages; they may lower foods and beverages in flavorsuch as taste, smell and mouth feeling, and need a large amount to exerta satisfactory effect. While, some kinds of minerals may lower foods andbeverages in preference due to its characteristic bitter taste and metaltaste. To meet a variety of food life, the development of food materialshaving satisfactory effect on promoting mineral absorption withoutlowering their flavor such as taste, smell and mouth feeling, and beingsafe even when continually taken, has been further desired.

The present applicant disclosed a novel process for producing cyclictetrasaccharide or a saccharide mixture containing it and its saccharidederivatives, and a composition containing them. The present applicantdisclosed that these saccharides are hardly utilized by intestinalbacteria and capable of acting as a dietary fiber, in the specificationof the International Publication Nos. WO 01/090338, WO 02/010361 and WO02/072594. However, the above described patent publications, i.e.Japanese Patent Kokai No.67575/95 through International Publication No.WO 02/072594, never disclose the fact that cyclic tetrasaccharide and/orsaccharide derivatives thereof, or composition containing suchsaccharides have a mineral absorption-promoting action.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has the first object to provide an accelerator formineral absorption, which is safely administered and is satisfactorilyeffective on promoting mineral absorption. The present invention has thesecond object to provide a composition for promoting mineral absorption,which contains the accelerator.

The present inventors have studied an accelerator for mineralabsorption, which contains saccharides as effective ingredients, toattain the above objects. As a result, they revealed that cyclictetrasaccharide and/or saccharide derivatives thereof strongly act topromote mineral absorption and to strengthen bone as a representative ofstrengthening calcium-containing tissues. They established a novelaccelerator for mineral absorption and a composition for promotingmineral absorption, which contains the accelerator, and thus theyaccomplished the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The term “composition” as referred to as in the present invention meansfoods, beverages, cosmetics, quasi-drugs, pharmaceuticals, feeds or petfoods. It further includes raw or intermediate materials and productsproduced by either processing or using them.

The term “cyclic tetrasaccharide” as referred to as in the presentinvention means a non-reducing saccharide composed of four glucoseresidues which cyclically bind each other via the α-1,3 and the α-1,6linkages, represented bycyclo{→6)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→},which is disclosed in the specification of the International PublicationNos. WO 01/090338 and WO 02/010361.

The term “saccharide derivative of cyclic tetrasaccharide” as referredto as in the present invention means a saccharide where one or more ofthe same or different glycosyl residues are bound to cyclictetrasaccharide; for example, a saccharide mixture having cyclictetrasaccharide and a saccharide where one or more glucose molecules arebound to one or more hydroxyl groups of cyclic tetrasaccharide, which isobtained by allowing α-isomaltosylglucosaccharide-forming enzyme andα-isomaltosyl-transferring enzyme to act on starch. Such saccharides canbe further reacted by the same or different saccharide-transferringenzymes selected from the group consisting of cyclomaltodextringlucanotransferase, β-galactosidase, α-galactosidase, lysozyme, etc., inthe presence of their substrates such as monosaccharides,oligosaccharides and/or polysaccharides according to the methoddisclosed by the inventors of the present invention in the specificationof the International Publication No. WO 02/010361 in order to produce asaccharide having one or more of the same or different glycosyl residuesselected from the group consisting of α-D-glucopyranosyl residue,β-D-galactopyranosyl residue and β-D-chitosaminyl residue at one or morehydroxyl groups of such saccharide. Furthermore, such saccharide can betransferred with one or more of the same or different glycosyl residuesselected from the group consisting of α-D-glucopyranosyl residue,β-D-galactopyranosyl residue, β-D-chitosaminyl residue, etc, at thepreviously transferred α-D-glucopyranosyl residue, β-D-galactopyranosylresidue, or β-D-chitosaminyl residue to saccharide derivatives of cyclictetrasaccharide.

The cyclic tetrasaccharide and saccharide derivatives thereof usable inthe present invention are not specifically restricted by their originsand processes. They can be produced by fermentation method, enzymaticmethod, and organic synthesis. Optionally, they can contain othersaccharides co-existing through the process of cyclic tetrasaccharide,such as glucose, isomaltose, maltose, oligosaccharides and dextrin. Suchreaction mixtures obtainable by the above methods can be used as thecyclic tetrasaccharide and saccharide derivatives thereof in the presentinvention. If necessary, they are partially or highly purified by usingion-exchange resins to remove impurities. Also, a saccharide mixture,containing one or more members selected from the group consisting of ahighly purified cyclic tetrasaccharide and saccharide derivativesthereof, can be used in the present invention. These cyclictetrasaccharide and saccharide derivatives thereof can be produced fromamylaceous substances or saccharides deriving therefrom by the enzymaticmethods; for example, converting panose into cyclic tetrasaccharide byα-isomaltosyl-transferring enzyme, disclosed by the same applicant asthe present invention in the specification of the InternationalPublication No. WO 01/090338; or producing cyclic tetrasaccharide fromstarch by using α-isomaltosylglucosaccharide-forming enzyme andα-isomaltosyl-transferring enzyme in combination, disclosed in thespecification of the International Publication No. WO 02/010361. Suchcyclic tetrasaccharide and saccharide derivatives thereof can be alsoproduced by the method disclosed by the same applicant as in the presentinvention in International Publication No. WO 02/072594. These methodscan be used for producing cyclic tetrasaccharide and saccharidederivatives thereof in a high efficiency and a lower cost using starchas an abundant and low cost material. Therefore, the cyclictetrasaccharide and saccharide derivatives thereof can be advantageouslyproduced on an industrial scale. Such cyclic tetrasaccharide may be inthe form of an anhydrous amorphous, anhydrous crystalline, crystallinemonohydrate, or crystalline pentahydrate. Any form of cyclictetrasaccharide can be used in the present invention. Among these,cyclic tetrasaccharide in an anhydrous crystalline, crystallinemonohydrate, and anhydrous amorphous form have a satisfactorydehydrating activity. They can be used as a dehydrating agent topowderize or solidify hydrous substances by admixing with a hydroussubstance such as unsaturated compounds. Therefore, cyclictetrasaccharide in such a form can be advantageously used for producinga powdery or solid product with a high quality, which comprises cyclictetrasaccharide as an effective ingredient.

The term “mineral” as referred to as in the present invention means amineral required in living bodies, for example, calcium, magnesium,phosphorus, iron, manganese, sodium, potassium, copper, molybdenum,zinc, manganese, cobalt, selenium, iodine, fluorine, etc.

Mineral compounds can be contained in the accelerator of the presentinvention in addition to cyclic tetrasaccharide and/or saccharidederivatives thereof, and are illustrated with the above mineralcompounds absorbable into living bodies, natural materials abundantlycontaining thereof or processed products containing thereof. Examples ofcalcium compounds are calcium carbonate, calcium chloride, calciumcitrate, calcium gluconate, calcium glycerophosphate, calcium lactate,calcium orthophosphate, calcium hydroxide, and calcium oxide. Further,wheyey calcium, bittern, eggshell calcium, cow bone calcium, fish bonepowder, coral powder, shell, or processed product thereof can also beusable.

Examples of magnesium compounds are magnesium carbonate, magnesiumchloride, magnesium sulfate, magnesium acetate, magnesium gluconate,magnesium glycerophosphate, magnesium lactate, magnesium orthophosphate,magnesium hydroxide, and magnesium oxide. Further, cacao bean, almond,soy bean, peanut, bittern, rice bran, seaweed including “hijiki” (Hizikifusiforme) and oarweed, and processed products thereof can also beusable because they highly contain magnesium.

Examples of potassium compounds are potassium orthophosphate, potassiumcitrate, potassium chloride, potassium carbonate, potassium gluconate,potassium glycerophosphate, potassium lactate, and potassium hydroxide.

Examples of sodium compounds are sodium orthophosphate, sodium citrate,sodium chloride, sodium carbonate, sodium gluconate, sodiumglycerophosphate, sodium lactate, and sodium hydroxide.

Examples of iron compounds are ferrous citrate, ferrous carbonate,ammonium ferric citrate, potassium bicarbonate ferrous gluconate,ferrous lactate, ferrous sulfate, ferrous fumarate, sodium ferricphosphate (ferric biphosphate), ferric monophosphate (ferricpyrophosphate), saccharated iron oxide and elementary iron.

Examples of manganese compounds are manganese carbonate and manganesesulfate.

Examples of cobalt compounds are cobalt chloride, cobalt carbonate andcobalt sulfate.

Examples of copper compounds are cupric carbonate, cupric citrate,cupric gluconate, cupric sulfate and lysine-copper complex.

Examples of zinc compounds are zinc acetate, zinc chloride, zinccitrate, zinc gluconate, zinc lactate, zinc oxide and zinc carbonate,and zinc sulfate.

Examples of molybdenum compounds are ammonium molybdate and potassiummolybdate.

Examples of selenium compounds are sodium selenate, sodium hydrogenselenite and sodium selenite.

Examples of fluorine compounds are potassium fluoride and sodiumfluoride.

Examples of iodine compounds are sodium iodide, sodium iodinate,potassium iodide and potassium iodinate. Natural products or processedproducts abundantly containing phosphorus, iron, manganese, potassium,copper, molybdenum, iodine or fluorine are not illustrated above.However, they can be usable as proper mineral compounds for theaccelerator of the present invention. According to the purpose of theaccelerator of the present invention, one or more mineral compounds canbe freely selected from the above mineral compounds to be incorporatedin the accelerator of the present invention, optionally in combinationwith two more of the same or different minerals.

Other agent having the mineral absorption-promoting action can beincorporated in the accelerator of the present invention in addition tocyclic tetrasaccharide and/or saccharide derivatives thereof. Such otheragents are illustrated with a substance having the mineral absorptionpromoting action and/or an enhancing action on cyclic tetrasaccharideand/or saccharide derivatives thereof having the mineral absorptionpromoting action: for example, saccharides such asisomaltooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides,fractooligosaccharides, nigerooligosaccharides, xylooligosaccharides,agarooligosaccharides, chitooligosaccharides, beet oligosaccharides,α,α-trehalose, saccharide derivatives of α,α-trehalose includingα-glucosyl α,α-trehalose and α-maltosyl α,α-trehalose, lactosucrose,sorbitol, maltitol, lactitol, xylitol, erythritol and cyclic difractose;vitamins or derivatives thereof such as vitamin D, vitamin K includingphylloquinone, menaquinone and menadione, and ascorbic acid; hormonepreparations such as calcitonin preparation, estrogen preparation,protein anabolic hormone preparation and bisphosphonate; andpolyphenols. Such polyphenols are illustrated with flavones, flavonols,flavanones, flavanonols, anthocyanidins, flavanols, chalcones, aurones,and their derivatives including precursors, aglycons and glycosides.These polyphenols or derivatives thereof can be further methylatedethylated, methoxylated, ethoxylated, sulfated or glycosylated. One ormore members selected from the group consisting of the above-describedsubstances can be used. Particularly, hesperetin, hesperidin, enzymetreated hesperidin, methylated hesperidin, naringenin, narindin, enzymetreated narindin, quercetin, rutin, enzyme treated rutin, eriodictin,eriodictyol, proanthocyanidin, catechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin,tannin or hamamelitannnin is advantageously used in view of efficientlyenhancing the mineral absorption promoting activity of cyclictetrasaccharide and/or saccharide derivatives thereof. Minerals havingthe calcium absorption promoting action, such as zinc and magnesium, canbe incorporated as agents having the mineral absorption-promoting actionin the accelerator of the present invention.

The accelerator of the present invention can be applied for domesticanimals such as a cow, horse and pig; domestic fowls such as a chickenand duck; cultured fishes or shellfishes such as a bream, flatfish,young yellowtail, short-neck clam and clam; cultured conchostracans suchas a shrimp and crab; insects such as a silkworm and honeybee; and petssuch as conchostracans, mammals including dogs and cats, birds,reptiles, amphibian, fishes and shellfishes as well as for humans.

The accelerator of the present invention containing cyclictetrasaccharide and/or saccharide derivatives thereof as effectiveingredients can be used alone, or if necessary, used by mixing with afiller, excipient or binder in order to be formed into various shapessuch as a syrup, paste, masquitte, powder, crystalline granule, sphere,short stick, plate, cube and tablet.

The accelerator of the present invention, containing cyclictetrasaccharide and/or saccharide derivatives thereof, well harmonizeswith other materials having other tastes such as acid taste, saltytaste, astringent taste, delicious taste and bitter taste, and lowersthe foreign taste and smell of the materials. Since it is highlyacid-resistant and heat-resistant, it can be advantageously used as araw material for general foods, beverages, quasi-drugs, pharmaceuticalsand feeds. The products containing the accelerator of the presentinvention can be used in the same manner as in products without theaccelerator, and they will be imparted with the mineral absorptionpromoting action and the calcium containing tissues including bones andteeth strengthening action. Therefore, they can be advantageously usedas foods, beverages, quasi-drugs, pharmaceuticals, intermediate productthereof or raw materials thereof for treating or preventing bonedisorders such as osteoporosis, bone fracture and backache; toothdisorders such as dental caries and periodontosis; urinary diseases suchas nephrolithiasis; circulatory diseases such as hypertension andischemic heart disease; anaemia; diabetes; and reduction of homeostaticfunction. In addition, they can be used as an agent for strengtheningbone, agent for strengthening calcium-containing tissues, or agent forreducing foreign taste and foreign smell. Further, they can be used forfeeds or pet foods of domestic animals, domestic fowls and pets in thesame manner.

The accelerator of the present invention is used for producing variousfoods and beverages such as seasonings, complex seasonings, Japaneseconfectioneries, Western confectioneries, breads, water ices, syrups,pastes, processed vegetable products, pickled vegetables, premixes forpickles vegetable, meat products, fish products, shellfish products,viands, side dish products, dairy products, soft drinks, premixes,instant foods, cold-stored foods, frozen foods, chilled foods, retortpouches, dried foods, baby foods, therapeutic diets, ampuled liquidmedicines, peptide foods and frozen foods. Such foods and beverages,having the mineral absorption promoting ability and/or bonestrengthening ability, can be advantageously used as a composition forpromoting mineral absorption and/or strengthening bone. The accelerator,containing cyclic tetrasaccharide and/or saccharide derivatives thereofas effective ingredients, can be further contained in feeds or pet foodsfor breeding animals such as domestic animals, domestic fowls,honeybees, silkworms, freshwater fishes and conchostracan, in order toimpart the mineral absorption promoting ability and/or calciumcontaining tissue strengthening ability.

Method for incorporating the accelerator of the present invention in adesired composition is not specifically restricted. The accelerator canbe incorporated in a desired composition at any step during the processor in the final product. Such method can be selected from mixing,kneading, dissolving, melting, dispersing, suspending, emulsifying,soaking, crystallizing, dispersing, applying, attaching, spraying,coating, injecting, crystallizing and solidifying.

The accelerator of the present invention contains cyclic tetrasaccharideand/or saccharide derivatives thereof in a total amount of about 0.1% byweight or more (hereinafter, “% by weight” may be represented by “%”),preferably 0.5% or more, more preferably 1.0% or more. The acceleratorcan simply contain cyclic tetrasaccharide and/or saccharide derivativesthereof and optionally contain other saccharides deriving from theprocess of cyclic tetrasaccharide and/or saccharide derivatives thereof,such as glucose, isomaltose, maltose, oligosaccharides and dextrin, aslong as it exerts the mineral absorption promoting action and/or bonestrengthening action. While, the accelerator of the present invention,in the case of containing reducing saccharides such as glucose, maycause the deterioration of a composition which it contains as aneffective ingredient a physiologically active substance having an aminogroup(s) intramolecularly, i.e., amino acids, by Mailard reaction.Therefore, the accelerator of the present invention preferably containscyclic tetrasaccharide and/or saccharide derivatives thereof in anamount of 98% or more, desirably 99% or more, more desirably 99.5% ormore. Optionally, it is subjected to hydrogenating reducing saccharidesco-existing with cyclic tetrasaccharide and/or saccharide derivativesthereof to lower the reducing power. Since cyclic tetrasaccharide and/orsaccharide derivatives thereof have a satisfactory stability, they maybe used in combination with one or more members selected from the groupconsisting of reducing saccharides, non-reducing saccharides excludingcyclic tetrasaccharide and saccharide derivatives thereof, cyclodextrin,sugar alcohols, dietary fibers and water-soluble polysaccharides,sweeteners excluding above, spices, acidifiers, delicious tasteimparting seasoning, liquors, organic acids, nonorganic acids, alkalinechemicals, emulsifiers, perfumeries, colorants, antioxidants andchelating substances in order to improve the dispersion property andincrease the volume as long as the effect and quality of the compositionis not reduced. If necessary, it may be used in combination with anappropriate amount of one or more members selected from the groupconsisting of preservatives, delicious taste imparting agents,sweeteners, stabilizers, alcohols and bactericides.

The accelerator of the present invention may be used in combination withan appropriate amount of one or more members selected from the groupconsisting of saccharides or sweeteners such as a powdery starch,glucose, maltose, sucrose, isomerized sugar, honey, maple sugar,dihydrochalcone, stevioside, α-glycosyl stevioside, rebaudioside,glycyrrhizin, L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester, saccharin,glycine, alanine, acesulfame-K and sucralose. It can be also admixedwith a filler such as dextrin, starch and lactose.

The accelerator of the present invention is not restricted to a specificdaily dose as long as it can exert the mineral absorption promotingaction and/or bone strengthening action. The dose of cyclictetrasaccharide and/or saccharide derivatives thereof is usually about0.01 g/kg body weight per day or more, preferably about 0.5 g/kg bodyweight per day or more, more preferably about 1.0 g/kg body weight perday or more, on a dry solid basis. A daily dose less than 0.01 g/kg bodyweight may be insufficient to effectively exert the mineralabsorption-promoting action. The accelerator can be administered at anyfrequency as long as it can exert the mineral absorption-promotingaction and/or bone-strengthening action. It can be administered once awhole daily dose or at several times a day in a divisional manner.Usually, the latter is rather preferable because the accelerator mightcause diarrhea in the case of administration in an excessive dose atonce to people having a predisposition to diarrhea. Particularly, theaccelerator is preferably used as a raw material for producing meal ortaken before or after meal. The accelerator of the present invention canbe orally administered alone or in a composition such as a food,beverage, pharmaceutical and quasi-drug. If such administrations areimpossible, it can be directly injected into stomach or intestine thougha catheter, etc.

The following experiments explain the accelerator for mineral absorptioncontaining cyclic tetrasaccharide or a mixture containing cyclictetrasaccharide and saccharide derivatives thereof in more detail.

Experiment 1: Influence of Taking Cyclic Tetrasaccharide on MineralAbsorption in Rats

As disclosed in the specification of International Publication No.WO01/090338, it is known that cyclic tetrasaccharide acts as a dietaryfiber. The dietary fiber is known to inhibit mineral absorption andincrease the excretion of minerals as disclosed, for example, in“Shokumotsu-Seni, Kiso-to-Rinsho (Dietary fiber, basic and clinical)”,published by Asakura Publishing Company, Tokyo, Japan, 1997. Therefore,the following experiment was carried out in order to determine howcyclic tetrasaccharide influenced the mineral absorption.

Experiment 1-1 Breeding and Weighing Rats

Forty of Wister rats weighing 110 to 120 g (five-weeks aged male,commercialized by Charles River Japan Inc., Yokohama, Japan) were bredwith a feed containing ingredients (%) shown in Table 1 for one week inorder to be familiarized. The familiarized rats were randomly dividedinto four groups with ten rats each. Each group was experimentally bredfor eight weeks with either a feed without cyclic tetrasaccharide shownin Table 1 (hereinafter, it is called as “basic feed”), or another feedof basic feed supplemented with 1%, 2% or 5% on a dry solid basis, ofcyclic tetrasaccharide in a crystalline anhydrous powder form with apurity of 99.5%, prepared in the following Example A-3. These basic feedand three kinds of feeds with cyclic tetrasaccharide were prepared tocontain 44.75% of the total amount of cyclic tetrasaccharide and cornstarch in each feed. From one week before the end of the breeding test,in order to determine the metabolism of calcium, magnesium, iron,sodium, potassium and phosphorus (hereinafter, may be called “minerals”in all), rats in the all groups were fed with the four types of feedssupplemented with 0.5% of chromium oxide as a non-absorbed marker forthe minerals. The rats were bred at 25° C. in a manner of freelyallowing to take feeds and water under a condition of 12 hours regularinterval between of light and shade. After completion of experimentalbreeding, all rats were individually weighed to calculate the average ofweight and further calculate the rate of increased weight for eachgroup. The result is shown in Table 2. In addition, Table 2 also showsthe value of total amount of feed taken by one rat and the intake valueaverage of cyclic tetrasaccharide per rat's weight a day. TABLE 1 FeedFeed Feed supplemented supplemented supplemented Feed with 1% cyclicwith 2% cyclic with 5% cyclic supplemented tetrasaccharide,tetrasaccharide, tetrasaccharide, with no cyclic on a dry on a dry on adry Ingredient tetrasaccharide solid basis solid basis solid basisCyclic tetra-saccharide 0.0 1.0 2.0 5.0 Corn starch 39.75 38.75 37.7534.75 α-Starch 13.20 13.20 13.20 13.20 Casein 20.00 20.00 20.00 20.00Sucrose 10.00 10.00 10.00 10.00 Soybean oil 7.00 7.00 7.00 7.00Cellulose 5.0 5.0 5.0 5.0 “Mineral Mix ™” 3.50 3.50 3.50 3.50 “VitaminMix ™” 1.00 1.00 1.00 1.00 D,L-Methionine 0.30 0.30 0.30 0.30 Cholinebitartrate 0.25 0.25 0.25 0.25 t-Butyl hydroquinone 0.0014 0.0014 0.00140.0014

TABLE 2 Feed Feed Feed supplemented supplemented supplemented with 1%cyclic with 2% cyclic with 5% cyclic tetra- tetra- tetra- saccharide, onsaccharide, on saccharide, on Base a dry solid a dry solid a dry solidItem feed basis basis basis Weight 408 412 432   415 (g/head) Weight 245250 270 * 253 increased in the breeding test (g/rat/56 days) Totalamount 1166 1132 1227 *  1200 of intake of feed in the breeding test(g/rat/56 days) Intake value 0 0.49   1.01 2.58 average of cyclic tetra-saccharide per kg body weight a day in the breeding test (g/rat/day)* Significantly difference level against base feed (p < 0.05)

Two days before the end of the breeding test, rats were placed into agauge for measuring metabolism to collect their excrement in two days.The resulting excrement was subjected to the measurement of the contentsof cyclic tetrasaccharide, each mineral, and chromium. After thebreeding test, the rats were anatomized in an anesthetized condition totake out their alimentary canals including jejunum, intestinum ileum,appendix and colon/rectum. After the resulting alimentary canals wereweighed, their contents were also weighed and subjected to themeasurement of the amount of cyclic tetrasaccharide, minerals andchromium. The rats, which had been taken out their alimentary canals,were dislocated at their cervical vertebrae and taken out their femursfrom right legs. The resulting femurs were subjected to the measurementof the amount of ashes, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. Thefollowing(s) explain the methods of quantitative analysis of cyclictetrasaccharide and the methods of measurement of minerals and chromium.

<Method of Quantification of Cyclic Tetrasaccharide>

One gram of a feed was admixed with 5 ml of 80% ethanol heated at 85° C.under reflux for 15 minutes to extract saccharides. The resultingsaccharide sample was subjected to TMS derivatization in a usual manner.Three microliters of the sample was applied to a gas chromatography(“GC-16™”, commercialized by Shimazu Corporation, Kyoto, Japan) equippedwith OV-17 packed column (“2% Silicone, OV-17 Chromosorb W/AW DMSC80-100 mesh, 3 mmID×2 m, SUS”, produced by GL Science Corporation). Theinner column temperature was kept at 160° C. for two minutes, and heatedup to 320° C. at a rate of 7.5° C./min. The amount of cyclictetrasaccharide was quantified by using nitrogen gas as a carrier (35ml/min). While, in order to quantify the amounts of the contents ofjejunum, intestinum ileum, appendix, colon/rectum and excrement, 0.05 gof each sample was weighed in a micro tube for gas chromatography anddried in a desiccator with phosphorus pentoxide. The resulting sampleswere subjected to TMS derivatization in a usual manner and quantified bygas chromatography.

<Method for Quantifying Calcium, Magnesium, Iron, Phosphorus andChromium>

Two grams of a feed was preciously weighed in a porcelain crucible,heated to carbonize, and heated at 600° C. to incinerate. After weighed,the resulting test samples were admixed with hydrochloric acid in aprecious analysis grade (concentration of 20%, commercialized by WakoPure Chemicals, Co., Ltd., Osaka, Japan) to give a final concentrationof 1%. They were subjected to atomic absorption spectrometry(“Zeeman5100™”, commercialized by PerkinElmer); in the case ofmeasurement of chromium, they were subjected to a flameless type one. Inthe case of measurement of phosphorus, they were subjected to usualmolybdenum blue absorptiometry. On the other hand, 0.1 g of each of thecontents of jejunum, intestinum ileum, appendix, colon/rectum, andexcrement was subjected to wet-type incineration to prepare test samplessimilarly as in the above case of feed, and the test samples werequantified. The right femurs taken out from the anatomized rats weredried at 105° C. for 15 hours and measured as a dry weight. Theresulting dried femurs were precisely weighed in a porcelain crucible,and incinerated similarly as in the case of the feed. The resultantswere weighed and quantified for calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.

Table 3 shows the results of the measurements of the amount of cyclictetrasaccharide in the feed, content of intestinum ileum, content ofappendix, and excrement. Based on these results and the measurements ofthe amount of chromium in the feed, content of intestinum ileum, contentof appendix and excrement shown in the following Table 5, the remainingpercentages of cyclic tetrasaccharide in the content of intestinumileum, content of appendix and excrement were calculated. The result isshown in Table 3. The remaining percentages (%) were calculated usingthe following numerical formula, based on the rate of the amount ofcyclic tetrasaccharide to chromium in each feed and the rate of those inthe contents or excrement in consideration of that chromium is neverabsorbed by living bodies;

Numerical Formula:{(Amount of cyclic tetrasaccharide in each content or excrement/Amountof chromium in each content or excrement)/(Amount of cyclictetrasaccharide in each feed/Amount of chromium in each feed)}×100 TABLE3 Amount of cyclic tetrasaccharide in the content of alimentary canal orexcrement Amount of Amount of (mg/g) (remaining percentage (%)) cyclictetra- cyclic tetra- Content of saccharide in saccharide in intestinumContent of feed (%) feed (mg/g) ileum appendix Excrement 1 8.9  60.5(95)0.0(0) 0.0(0) 2 18.7 184.1(95) 0.0(0) 0.0(0) 5 44.2 298.0(90) 0.0(0)0.0(0)

As evident from the result shown in Table 3, in the rats bred with thefeed supplemented with 1%, 2% or 5% of cyclic tetrasaccharide, at least90% of cyclic tetrasaccharide was remained up to intestinum ileumwithout digestion but not detected at all in the appendix and excrement.While, the amount of organic acids including lactic acid was increasedin supplemented depending on the amount of cyclic tetrasaccharide, andthe pH reduction was observed. These results suggested that cyclictetrasaccharide was digested by microorganisms in the appendix of rats.

The following Table 4 shows the result of measurement of the amount ofmineral or chromium in the feeds. The following table 5 shows the resultof the measurement of the amount of calcium, magnesium and chromium inthe contents of intestinum ileum, appendix and colon/rectum orexcrement. The following Table 6 shows the result for iron andphosphorus. Based on these results, the cumulative remaining rates inthe contents of intestinum ileum, appendix and excrement, and thecumulative absorption rates to each alimentary canal were calculated.Tables 5 and 6 also show the results thereof. The absorbing rate (%) wascalculated using the following numerical formula, based on the rate ofthe amount of each mineral to chromium in each feed and the rate ofthose in the contents or excrement, considering that chromium is neverabsorbed by living bodies;

Numerical Formula:100−{[(Amount of each mineral in each content or excrement/Amount ofchromium in each content or excrement)/(Amount of each mineral in eachfeed/Amount of chromium in each feed)]×100}

Further, Table 7 shows the result of the measurement of the dry weight,ash, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus of the femur. TABLE 4 Feed FeedFeed supplemented supplemented supplemented with 1% cyclic with 2%cyclic with 5% cyclic tetra- tetra- tetra- saccharide, on saccharide, onsaccharide, on Base a dry solid a dry solid a dry solid Item feed basisbasis basis Amount of 3.87 4.10 3.32 4.30 calcium (mg/g) Amount of 0.880.90 0.78 0.93 magnesium (mg/g) Amount of 3.00 3.00 2.97 2.99 phosphorus(mg/g) Amount of 33.8 41.3 35.2 45.7 iron (μg/g) Amount of 4.31 3.853.53 4.84 sodium (mg/g) Amount of 4.49 5.19 3.78 4.40 potassium (mg/g)Amount of 10.89 9.91 8.81 10.39 chromium (μg/g)

TABLE 5 Amount of Amount of calcium [mg/g] magnesium [mg/g] (Absorption(Absorption Amount of Item percentage [%]) percentage [%]) chromium[mg/g] Intestinum Basic feed   8.56 (75)   1.93 (76) 0.101 ileum Feedsupplemented 6.02 * (79) 1.30 * (80) 0.070 with 1% cyclictetra-saccharide Feed supplemented 5.61 * (84) 1.61 * (80) 0.092 with 2%cyclic tetra-saccharide Feed supplemented 3.48 * (89) 1.04 * (84) 0.075with 5% cyclic tetra-saccharide Appendix Basic feed  11.48 (81)   2.64(81) 0.173 Feed supplemented 10.56 * (83)  2.24 * (84) 0.153 with 1%cyclic tetra-saccharide Feed supplemented 8.98 * (88) 2.40 * (86) 0.201with 2% cyclic tetra-saccharide Feed supplemented 4.99 * (93) 2.03 *(88) 0.192 with 5% cyclic tetra-saccharide Colon/ Basic feed  11.99 (84)  2.81 (84) 0.215 Rectum Feed supplemented 9.83 * (86) 2.17 * (86) 0.199with 1% cyclic tetra-saccharide Feed supplemented 7.45 * (90) 2.09 *(88) 0.199 with 2% cyclic tetra-saccharide Feed supplemented 5.00 * (94)1.55 * (91) 0.183 with 5% cyclic tetra-saccharide Excrement Basic feed 60.43 (85)  13.01 (86) 1.202 Feed supplemented 54.29 * (88)  12.06 *(88)  1.105 with 1% cyclic tetra-saccharide Feed supplemented 28.62 *(92)  9.21 * (90) 1.042 with 2% cyclic tetra-saccharide Feedsupplemented 26.47 * (94)  8.37 * (93) 1.400 with 5% cyclictetra-saccharide* Significant difference level (p < 0.05) against basic feed.

TABLE 6 Amount of Amount of Phosphorus iron [mg/g] [mg/g] (Absorption(Absorption percentage percentage Item [%]) [%]) Intes- Basic feed  4.62 (83)   0.11 (63) tinum Feed supplemented 3.45 * (84) 0.10 * (67)ileum with 1% cyclic tetra-saccharide Feed supplemented 4.17 * (87)0.12 * (67) with 2% cyclic tetra-saccharide Feed supplemented 2.84 *(87) 0.10 * (69) with 5% cyclic tetra-saccharide Appendix Basic feed  5.82 (87)   0.15 (71) Feed supplemented 5.39 * (88) 0.16 * (74) with1% cyclic tetra-saccharide Feed supplemented 5.35 * (92) 0.18 * (77)with 2% cyclic tetra-saccharide Feed supplemented 3.43 * (93) 0.19 *(78) with 5% cyclic tetra-saccharide Colon/ Basic feed   5.18 (91)  0.15 (77) Rectum Feed supplemented 5.18 * (92) 0.14 * (80) with 1%cyclic tetra-saccharide Feed supplemented 4.10 * (94) 0.14 * (83) with2% cyclic tetra-saccharide Feed supplemented 3.06 * (94) 0.13 * (84)with 5% cyclic tetra-saccharide Excre- Basic feed  20.45 (94)   0.68(81) ment Feed supplemented 17.74 * (95)  0.71 * (85) with 1% cyclictetra-saccharide Feed supplemented 10.27 * (97)  0.49 * (88) with 2%cyclic tetra-saccharide Feed supplemented 8.98 * (97) 0.66 * (89) with5% cyclic tetra-saccharide* Significant difference level (p < 0.05) against basic feed.

TABLE 7 Feed supplemented Feed supplemented Feed supplemented with 1%cyclic with 2% cyclic with 5% cyclic Base tetra-saccharide ontetra-saccharide on tetra-saccharide on Item feed a dry solid basis adry solid basis a dry solid basis Dry weight(g) 0.63 0.68 * 0.71 *0.71 * Amount of ash 0.63 0.64 * 0.65 * 0.66 * (g/g dry femur) Amount ofcalcium 203  217 *  225 *  240 * (mg/g dry femur) Amount of 4.1  4.3 * 4.4 *  4.5 * magnesium (mg/g dry femur) Amount of 108  115 *  116 * 118 * phosphorus (mg/g dry femur)* Significant difference level (p < 0.05) against basic feed.

As evident from the results in Tables 5 and 6, the absorption rates ofcalcium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron in both intestinum ileum andlower alimentary canal than the intestinum canal were significantlyincreased in a dose-dependent manner of cyclic tetrasaccharide. Asevident from the result in Table 7, the amounts of dried bone weight,ash, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus were significantly increased incomparing with the control in a dose-dependent manner of cyclictetrasaccharide, respectively. While, there was no difference in driedbone weight between feeds containing 2% or 5% of cyclic tetrasaccharide.These results revealed that cyclic tetrasaccharide had the effect onpromoting the absorption of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and iron,further confirmed that it acted to increase the dried bone weight, theamount of ash, the amount of minerals and bone density, and tostrengthen bone. Such effect of cyclic tetrasaccharide on promotingmineral absorption was found in intestinum ileum since the cyclictetrasaccharide was hardly utilized therein. Therefore, the effect ofcyclic tetrasaccharide on promoting mineral absorption was exerted byanother mechanism different from the large intestine fermentationreported for maltitol, lactosucrose or fractooligosaccharide.

Experiment 2:

Experiment 1 confirmed that cyclic tetrasaccharide promotes mineralabsorption in alimentary canal of rat concretely in intestinum ileum orits upper alimentary canal. The following experiment was carried out inorder to determine a part of alimentary canal, cyclic tetrasaccharideacts on to promote mineral absorption. Twenty heads of Wister rats (nineweek aged male, commercialized by Charlesriver Corporation, Kanagawa,Japan) were bred for three days with a usual solid feed for rats. Underthe anesthetization with ether, alimentary canal was taken out from eachrat which had been bled from a jugular vein and treated by abdominaloperation. Each alimentary canal was divided into jejunum, intestinumileum and colon/rectum and washed with physiological saline to removethe content. The resulting jejunum specimen, intestinum ileum specimenor colon/rectum specimen was cut off to prepare each midsection sizedwith about 10 cm in length. The resulting midsection of each specimenwas reversed using a glass rod and immersed in a physiological salinebabbled with gas consisting of 95% oxygen and 5% carbon dioxide. Theresultant was cut into pieces sized with 5 cm in length and each piecewas tied with a suture thread at both ends to prepare a reversed canalsac, and injected with about 0.5 ml of an internal sac solutioncontaining 30 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH7.4), 125 mM sodium chloride, 4 mMpotassium chloride, 10 mM glucose and 1.25 mM calcium chloride(dihydrate) with a syringe and weighed. The resulting sac was immersedin an external sac solution (being bubbled with the gas consisting of95% oxygen and 5% carbon dioxide) containing 50 mM, 100 mM or 200 mM ofthe same cyclic tetrasaccharide to Experiment 1 in the above solutioncontaining 30 mM Tris-HCl buffer (pH7.4), 125 mM sodium chloride, 4 mMpotassium chloride, 10 mM glucose and 1.25 mM calcium chloride(dehydrate). At 15 or 30 minutes after the immersion, the reversed canalsac was taken out from the solution and washed with distilled water. Theinternal sac solution was collected from the resulting sac and admixedwith distilled water to give a final volume of 25 ml. The resultingsolution was subjected to a colorimetric measurement of calcium contentusing “CALCIUM TEST C WAKO™” (commercialized by Wako Pure ChemicalsCorporation, Osaka, Japan). As a negative control, an external sacsolution without saccharides. As a positive control, an external sacsolution containing 200 mM maltitol, reported to have the effect onpromoting mineral absorption though intestinal canal, instead of cyclictetrasaccharide were prepared and carried out in the same manner. Speedof calcium absorption (nmol/min·cm²) and its relative values definingthe value of negative control as 100 were calculated. The result wasshown in Table 8. TABLE 8 Saccharide added to external sac Absorptionspeed of calcium in each alimentary solution canal sac ** (nmol/min ·cm²) (Concentration) Jejunum Intestinum ileum Colon/Rectum Control (0mM) 21.4 (100) 27.1 (100) 13.3 (100) Cyclic tetra- 26.5 *※ (124) 33.6 *※(124) 13.5 ※ (101) saccharide (50 mM) Cyclic tetra- 37.6 *※ (176) 46.0*※ (167) 14.6 *※ (109) saccharide (100 mM) Cyclic tetra- 39.0 *※ (183)52.9 *※ (195) 15.4 *※ (116) saccharide (200 mM) Maltitol (200 mM) 27.9 *(131) 40.5 * (150) 22.3 * (168)* Significant difference level (p < 0.05) against control.※ Significant difference level (p < 0.05) against maltitol (excludingthe control).** Parenthetic value means the relative value when a control value isregarded as 100.

As evident from the result in Table 8, in the case of immersing thereversed sac prepared from jejunum, intestinum ileum and colon/rectum inthe external sac solution, it showed a more active promotion of calciumabsorption in a dose dependent manner than in the case of withoutsaccharide. Cyclic tetrasaccharide strongly promoted the calciumabsorption in jejunum and intestinum ileum but slightly in colon/rectum.While maltitol strongly promoted the calcium absorption in jejunum,intestinum ileum and colon/rectum. The result well corresponds to theresult of Experiment 1 which shows that cyclic tetrasaccharide has aneffect on promoting the mineral absorption in intestinum ileum. It isknown that calcium is absorbed from alimentary canal; through activetransport by an intracellular calcium transporter in jejunum andintestinum ileum, or through passive diffusion in colon/rectum. Inaddition, it is reported that maltitol is converted into organic acidsby intestinal fermentation. As a result, unlike maltitol, cyclictetrasaccharide is thought to promote the calcium absorption due toactive transport through intracellular calcium transporters by acting oncells of upper alimentary canal such as jejunum and intestinum ileum. Inconsidering the result of Experiment 1 where cyclic tetrasaccharidepromotes the absorption of similarly as calcium, such as magnesium andphosphorus in the upper alimentary canal, it is concluded that cyclictetrasaccharide has an effect on actively promoting mineral absorptionin the upper alimentary canal such as jejunum and intestinum ileum.

The above experimental results reveal that a composition containingcyclic tetrasaccharide can be used for promoting mineral absorptionand/or strengthening bone in living bodies.

The following Examples 1 to 8 concretely explain the accelerators ofmineral absorption of the present invention, containing cyclictetrasaccharide and/or saccharide derivatives thereof. The followingExamples 9 to 29 concretely explain the compositions containing theaccelerators. The present invention should not be restricted by theseExamples.

EXAMPLE 1

According to the method in Example 2 disclosed in the specification ofInternational Publication No. WO 01/090338, an accelerator for mineralabsorption in a syrup form had been prepared from potato starch. Theaccelerator had a concentration of 80% and contained 0.6% of glucose,1.5% of isomaltose, 12.3% of maltose, 63.5% of cyclic tetrasaccharide,5.2% of saccharide derivatives of cyclic tetrasaccharide formed in amanner of binding one or more glucose residues to the cyclictetrasaccharide, and 16.9% of other saccharides, on a dry solid basis.The accelerator is used alone for promoting mineral absorption and/orstrengthening bone, or optionally used for producing variouscompositions such as foods, beverages, quasi-drugs, pharmaceuticals andfeeds for promoting mineral absorption by incorporating into rawmaterials including edible materials, pharmaceutical materials or feedmaterials, or intermediate products.

EXAMPLE 2

According to the method in Example 9 disclosed in the specification ofInternational Publication No. WO 01/090338 (except for omittingα-glucosidase and glucoamylase), an accelerator for mineral absorptionin a syrup form had been prepared from corn starch. The accelerator hada concentration of 73% and contained 4.1% of glucose, 8.1% ofdisaccharides including maltose or isomaltose, 4.6% of trisaccharidesincluding maltotriose, 35.2% of cyclic tetrasaccharide, 15.6% ofsaccharide derivatives of cyclic tetrasaccharide which had structuresbinding one or more glucose residues to cyclic tetrasaccharide, and32.4% of other saccharides, on a dry solid basis. The accelerator isused alone for promoting mineral absorption and/or strengthening bone,or optionally used for producing various compositions such as foods,beverages, quasi-drugs, pharmaceuticals and feeds by incorporating intoraw materials including edible materials, pharmaceutical materials orfeed materials, or intermediate products.

EXAMPLE 3

A syrup containing cyclic tetrasaccharide prepared from corn starchaccording to the method in Example 4 disclosed in the specification ofthe International Publication No. WO 01/090338 was subjected topurifying, concentrating, drying, and crystallizing according to themethods in Examples 6 and 7 disclosed in the specification of theInternational Publication No. WO 01/090338 to produce an accelerator formineral absorption in a powder form, which essentially consists ofcrystalline pentahydrous cyclic tetrasaccharide with a purity of 99.6%.The accelerator is used alone for promoting mineral absorption and/orstrengthening bone, or optionally used for producing variouscompositions such as foods, beverages, quasi-drugs, pharmaceuticals andfeeds by incorporating the product into raw materials including ediblematerials, pharmaceutical materials or feed materials, or intermediateproducts.

The crystalline pentahydrous cyclic tetrasaccharide was dried accordingto the method in Experiment 31 or 32 disclosed in the specification ofthe International Publication No. WO 01/090338 to produce acceleratorsfor promoting mineral absorption consisting of a powder containing ofcrystalline monohydrous cyclic tetrasaccharide or crystalline anhydrouscyclic tetrasaccharide. These accelerators are used alone for promotingmineral absorption and/or strengthening bone, or optionally used forproducing various compositions such as foods, beverages, quasi-drugs,pharmaceuticals and feeds by incorporating the product into rawmaterials including edible materials, pharmaceutical materials or feedmaterials, or intermediate products.

EXAMPLE 4

Sixty parts by weight of crystalline pentahydrous cyclictetrasaccharide, prepared in Example 3, were admixed with 40 parts byweight of a commercialized crystalline anhydrous maltitol (“MABIT™”,commercialized by Hayashibara Shoji Co., Ltd., Okayama, Japan) toproduce an accelerator for mineral absorption in a powder form. Theaccelerator is used alone for promoting mineral absorption and/orstrengthening bone, or optionally used for producing variouscompositions such as foods, beverages, quasi-drugs, pharmaceuticals andfeeds by incorporating the product into raw materials including ediblematerials, pharmaceutical materials or feed materials, or intermediateproducts.

EXAMPLE 5

Fifty parts by weight of crystalline pentahydrous cyclictetrasaccharide, prepared in Example 3, were admixed with 50 parts byweight of a commercialized α,α-trehalose (“TREHA®”, commercialized byHayashibara Shoji Co., Ltd., Okayama, Japan) to produce an acceleratorfor mineral absorption in a powder form. The accelerator is used alonefor promoting mineral absorption and/or strengthening bone, oroptionally used for producing various compositions such as foods,beverages, quasi-drugs, pharmaceuticals and feeds by incorporating theproduct into raw materials including edible materials, pharmaceuticalmaterials or feed materials, or intermediate products. In addition, theaccelerator can be granulized or tableted by optionally adding sugaresters to be easily formed into a granule or tablet.

EXAMPLE 6

A commercialized food grade crystalline hydrous α,α-trehalose (“TREHA®”,commercialized by Hayashibara Shoji, Inc., Okayama, Japan) was dissolvedin water and concentrated in vacuo by heating at 60° C. to give atrehalose solution with a concentration of 75%. The resulting solutionwas kept at ambient temperature to form crystal. The resulting crystalwas washed with water twice, dried and pulverized to produce acrystalline hydrous α,α-trehalose powder with a purity of 99.8%. Fiftyparts by weight of the resulting powder and fifty parts by weight ofcrystalline pentahydrous cyclic tetrasaccharide, prepared in Example 3,were admixed homogeneously to produce an accelerator for mineralabsorption in a powder form. The accelerator is used alone for promotingmineral absorption and/or strengthening bone or optionally used forproducing various compositions such as foods, beverages, quasi-drugs,pharmaceuticals and feeds by incorporating the product into rawmaterials including edible materials, pharmaceutical materials or feedmaterials, or intermediate products. Since the accelerator consists ofcyclic tetrasaccharide and trehalose with a high purity, it is stabledue to an extremely low reactivity. Therefore, it is advantageously usedfor easily-deteriorated compositions having an amino group(s) causing ofMailard reaction with reducing saccharides. In addition, the acceleratorcan be granulized or tableted by optionally adding sugar esters to beeasily formed into a granule or tablet.

EXAMPLE 7

Seventy parts by weight of the syrup containing cyclic tetrasaccharideand saccharide derivatives thereof, prepared in Example 1, were admixedwith two parts by weight of ascorbic acid, one part by weight of vitaminE₁ and 0.5 part by weight of glycerin fatty acid ester to produce anaccelerator for mineral absorption in a syrup form. The accelerator isused alone for promoting mineral absorption and/or strengthening bone,or optionally used for producing various compositions such as foods,beverages, quasi-drugs, pharmaceuticals and feeds by incorporating theproduct into raw materials including edible materials, pharmaceuticalmaterials or feed materials, or intermediate products.

EXAMPLE 8

Seventy parts by weight of crystalline pentahydrous cyclictetrasaccharide, prepared in Example 3, were admixed with two parts byweight of ascorbic acid 2-glucoside (commercialized by HayashibaraBiochemical Laboratories, Inc., Okayama, Japan) and two parts by weightof enzyme-treated hesperidin (“αG HESPERIDIN™”, commercialized by ToyoSugar Refining, Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) to produce a powdery mixture.The product is used alone for promoting mineral absorption and/orstrengthening bone, or optionally used for producing variouscompositions such as foods, beverages, quasi-drugs, pharmaceuticals andfeeds by incorporating the product into raw materials including ediblematerials, pharmaceutical materials or feed materials, or intermediateproducts.

EXAMPLE 9 Table Sugar for Promoting Mineral Absorption

Fifty parts by weight of the accelerator for mineral absorption in apowder form containing crystalline pentahydrous cyclic tetrasaccharide,prepared by the method in Example 3, 46 parts by weight of crystallineanhydrous maltitol, three parts by weight of a glycosyl transferredhesperidin (“αG HESPERIDIN™”, commercialized by Toyo Sugar Refining,Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) and one part by weight of sucralose(commercialized by San-Ei Gen. F.F.I. Inc., Osaka, Japan) were dissolvedin 200 parts by weight of water and spray-dried in a usual manner toproduce a powdery sweetener for promoting mineral absorption. Theproduct, containing cyclic tetrasaccharide and glycosyl-transferredhesperidin, promotes the absorption of minerals taken from other foodsand beverages.

EXAMPLE 10 Sweetener for Promoting Mineral Absorption

Five parts by weight of the accelerator in a powder form containingcrystalline monohydrous cyclic tetrasaccharide, prepared in Example 3,94.5 parts by weight of a crystalline anhydrous maltitol powder(“MABIT®”, commercialized by Hayashibara Shoji, Inc.) and 0.5 part byweight of an L-aspartyl-L-phenylalanine methyl ester (“ASPARTAME™”,commercialized by Ajinomoto Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) were mixedhomogeneously and granulated in a usual manner to produce a granularsweetener for promoting mineral absorption. Since cyclic tetrasaccharidepromotes the intestinal absorption of minerals taken from other foodsand beverages, the product is used for strengthening bone of humans on alow-mineral diet. In addition, it is preferably used as a sweetener forpreventing or treating lifestyle related diseases caused by lack ofminerals such as osteoporosis and metabolism disorder. It alsopreferably used as a sweetness-imparting agent for pharmaceuticals.

EXAMPLE 11 Powdery Oil for Promoting Mineral Absorption

One hundred parts by weight of soybean salad oil and one part by weightof lecithin were admixed with 10 parts by weight of water in ambienttemperature. The resulting mixture was admixed with 100 parts by weightof the accelerator in a powder form, prepared in Example 5, powdered andsieved to produce a powdery oil for promoting mineral absorption. Sincethe product, containing cyclic tetrasaccharide, promotes the intestinalabsorption of minerals taken from other foods and beverages when takenwith foods, beverages or feeds produced by using the product, it is usedfor strengthening bone of humans on a low-mineral diet. In addition, itis preferably used for preventing or treating lifestyle related diseasescaused by lack of minerals such as osteoporosis and metabolism disorder.Further, the product is advantageously used as a raw material for feedor pet food for animals requiring mineral supplements.

EXAMPLE 12 Vegetable Juice for Promoting Mineral Absorption

97.5 parts by weight of a commercialized vegetable juice were admixedwith one part by weight of xyloglucan hydrolysate, one part by weight ofthe accelerator in a syrup form, prepared in Example 2, and 0.5 part byweight of glycosyl transferred naringin to produce a vegetable juice forpromoting mineral absorption. Since cyclic tetrasaccharide promotesabsorption of minerals taken from the product or other foods andbeverages, the product is used for strengthening bones of humans on alow-mineral diet when the product, or food, beverage or feed made ofthereof is taken. Further, it is advantageously used for treating orpreventing diseases including lifestyle-related diseases caused by lackof minerals such as osteoporosis and metabolic disorders, and as a feedor pet food for animals requiring mineral supplements. In addition, theproduct is lowered in bitter taste characteristic to vegetable and is adelicious vegetable juice.

EXAMPLE 13 Beer for Promoting Mineral Absorption

One hundred parts by weight of a fermentative solution attached by acommercialized beer preparation kit (“NB Beer Basic Set™”,commercialized by Tokyu Hands Inc., Tokyo, Japan) were admixed with twoparts by weight of the accelerator in a syrup form, prepared by themethod in Example 1, to produce a beer according to the attached manual.Since the product promotes absorption of minerals taken from the productor other foods and beverages when it is taken, it is used forstrengthening bones of humans on a low-mineral diet. Further, theproduct is advantageously used alone or as a raw material for treatingor preventing diseases including lifestyle-related diseases caused bylack of minerals such as osteoporosis and metabolic disorders, and as afeed or pet food for animals requiring mineral supplements. In addition,the product is lowered in unpleasant taste and/or unpleasant smellcharacteristic to beer and is a sharp and delicious beer.

EXAMPLE 14 Powdery Ginseng Extract for Promoting Mineral Absorption

One part by weight of five-fold concentrated ginseng extract was admixedwith two parts by weight of crystalline hydrous trehalose and four partsby weight of the accelerator in a syrup form, prepared in Example 1, anddissolved by stirring. The resulting solution was spray-dried in a usualmanner to produce a powdery ginseng extract for promoting mineralabsorption. Since the product contains cyclic tetrasaccharide andsaccharide derivatives thereof, when the product, or a food, beverage orfeed made thereof is taken, the product promotes absorption of mineralstaken from the product or other foods and beverages. Therefore, it isused for strengthening bones of humans on a low-mineral diet. Further,the product is advantageously used alone or as a raw material fortreating or preventing diseases including lifestyle-related diseasescaused by lack of minerals such as osteoporosis and metabolic disorders,and as a feed or pet food for animals requiring mineral supplements. Inaddition, the product is lowered in bitter taste characteristic toginseng extract and is a delicious powdery ginseng extract.

EXAMPLE 15 Powdery Royal Jelly for Promoting Mineral Absorption

One part by weight of frozen raw royal jelly was admixed with 0.2 partby weight of powdery propolis and nine parts by weight of the mixturecontaining crystalline monohydrous cyclic tetrasaccharide and the sameamount of crystalline anhydrous cyclic tetrasaccharide, pulverized in ausual manner to produce a powdery raw royal jelly for promoting mineralabsorption. Since cyclic tetrasaccharide and royal jelly promoteabsorption of minerals taken from other foods and beverages, the productis used for strengthening bones of humans on a low-mineral diet.Further, the product is advantageously used alone or as a raw materialfor treating or preventing diseases including lifestyle-related diseasescaused by lack of minerals such as osteoporosis and metabolic disorders,and as a feed or pet food for animals requiring mineral supplements. Inaddition, the product is lowered in smell characteristic to royal jellyand is an easily-taken powdery royal jelly.

EXAMPLE 16 Chocolate Cookie for Promoting Mineral Absorption

A chocolate cookie for promoting mineral absorption was produced in ausual manner using 140 parts by weight of wheat flour (weak flour), 90parts by weight of butter, 115 parts by weight of chocolate, 360 partsby weight of sugar, 200 parts by weigh of whole egg, 200 parts by weightof almond, 50 parts by weight of the accelerator in a powder formcontaining crystalline monohydrous cyclic tetrasaccharide, prepared bythe method in Example 3, and two parts by weight of coral calcium. Sincecyclic tetrasaccharide promotes absorption of minerals taken from otherfoods and beverages, the product is used for strengthening bones ofhumans on a low-mineral diet. Further, the product is advantageouslyused alone or as a raw material for treating or preventing diseasesincluding lifestyle-related diseases caused by lack of minerals such asosteoporosis and metabolic disorders, and as a feed or pet food foranimals requiring mineral supplements. In addition, the product islowered in characteristic and stuffy smell due to 2,3-butanedion from aheated chocolate and a delicious chocolate.

EXAMPLE 17 Jelly for Promoting Mineral Absorption

Two hundreds parts by weight of framboise puree, 46 parts by weight ofgranulated sugar, 12 parts by weight of the accelerator in a syrup form,prepared in Example 2, 50 parts by weight of starch syrup, 122 parts byweight of α,α-trehalose (“TREHA®”, commercialized by Hayashibara Shoji,Inc., Okayama, Japan), five parts by weight of pectin, three parts byweight of 50% citric acid aqueous solution, 27 parts by weight ofisomerized sugar, and appropriate amount of water were mixed together,dissolved and boiled down slowly to about Brix 78. The resultant waspoured in an appropriate mold and cooled at ambient temperature toproduce a hard jelly for promoting mineral absorption. Since cyclictetrasaccharide and saccharide derivatives thereof promote absorption ofminerals taken from other foods and beverages, the product is used forstrengthening bones of humans on a low-mineral diet. Further, theproduct is advantageously used for treating or preventing diseasesincluding lifestyle-related diseases caused by lack of minerals such asosteoporosis and metabolic disorders.

EXAMPLE 18 Hard Candy for Promoting Mineral Absorption

Sixty parts by weight of sugar, 20 parts by weight of α,α-trehalose(“TREHA®”, commercialized by Hayashibara Shoji, Inc., Okayama, Japan),35 parts by weight of the accelerator in a syrup form, prepared by themethod in Example 1, 1.5 parts by weight of a mixture of amino acids,and 85 parts by weight of water were mixed together to produce a hardcandy for promoting mineral absorption in a usual manner. Since cyclictetrasaccharide and saccharide derivatives thereof promote absorption ofminerals taken from other foods and beverages, the product is used forstrengthening bones of humans on a low-mineral diet. Further, theproduct is advantageously used for treating or preventing diseasesincluding lifestyle-related diseases caused by lack of minerals such asosteoporosis and metabolic disorders.

EXAMPLE 19 Rice Flour Bread for Promoting Mineral Absorption

Four hundreds parts by weight of a rice flour containing gluten forbread (“KOME NO KO (for bread)™”, commercialized by Saitoh Flour MillingInc., Niigata, Japan), eight parts by weight of sodium chloride, 40parts by weight of the accelerator containing crystalline pentahydrouscyclic tetrasaccharide as an effective ingredient in a powder form,prepared in Example 3, 12 parts by weight of white superior soft sugar,12 parts by weight of skim milk, one part by weight of raw yeast, eightparts by weight of pullulan, 320 parts by weight of water were mixedtogether by stirring with a vertical mixer, further admixed with 20parts by weight of butter, and kneaded to prepare a dough. The resultingdough was kept at 25° C. for 50 minutes to ferment and cut into piecesin an appropriate size. The resultant was kept at RH75 and 35° C. for 50minutes and baked in an oven controlled at the upper and lowertemperature of 180° C. for 40 minutes to produce rice flour bread forpromoting mineral absorption. Since the product contains cyclictetrasaccharide, when the product is taken, it promotes the absorptionof minerals taken from the product or other foods and beverages.Therefore, it is used for strengthening bones of humans on a low-mineraldiet. Further, the product is advantageously used for treating orpreventing diseases including lifestyle-related diseases caused by lackof minerals such as osteoporosis and metabolic disorders. In addition,the product is lowered in fermenting smell characteristic to yeast andis a delicious rice flour bread.

EXAMPLE 20 Boiled Rice for Promoting Mineral Absorption

Three hundreds parts by weight of a washed and drained rice wereimmersed in an aqueous solution containing 375 parts by weight of waterand 13.5 parts by weight of the accelerator in a powder form, preparedin Example 4, for one hour, and boiled with a rice cooker for family useto produce a boiled rice for promoting mineral absorption. Since theproduct contains cyclic tetrasaccharide, when the product is taken, itpromotes the absorption of minerals taken from the product or otherfoods and beverages. Therefore, it is used alone or as a raw materialfor strengthening bones of humans on a low-mineral diet, and as a feedor pet food for animals requiring mineral supplements. In addition, theproduct is lowered in smell of rice bran and is a delicious boiled rice.

EXAMPLE 21 Fishpaste Product for Promoting Mineral Absorption

Two thousands parts by weight of walleye pollack fresh meat immersed inwater were admixed with 105 parts by weight of the accelerator in apowder form, prepared in Example 5, three parts by weight of sodiumlactate and 0.2 part by weight of proanthocyanidin to produce afishpaste. The fishpaste was frozen at −20° C. to produce a frozenfishpaste. After preserved at −20° C. for 90 days, the fishpaste wasthawed, admixed with 100 parts by weight of a solution containing 150parts by weight of iced water, 40 parts by weight of sodium glutamate,100 parts by weight of potato starch, three parts by weight of sodiumpolyphosphate, 50 parts by weight of sodium chloride and five parts byweight of sorbitol, and minced. The resultant was molded by about 120 gand placed on a board. The resultant was steamed for 30 minutes to givean inner temperature of about 80° C. After cooled in ambienttemperature, the resultant was kept at 4° C. for 24 hours to produce afish paste product for promoting mineral absorption. Since cyclictetrasaccharide and proanthocyanidin promote absorption of minerals, theproduct is used for diet or preventing lifestyle-related diseases.Further, it is advantageously used as a food or a material thereof forpatients on a low-lipid diet, for example, patients withlifestyle-related diseases such as adiposis and hyperlipemia. Theproduct is lowered in foreign smell due to the oxidation ordecomposition and a delicious fishpaste product.

EXAMPLE 22 Bacon for Promoting Mineral Absorption

Twenty-two parts by weight of sodium chloride, four parts by weight ofthe accelerator containing crystalline pentahydrous cyclictetrasaccharide, prepared in Example 3, one part by weight of sugar, twoparts by weight of sodium lactate, 2.0 parts by weight of sodiumpolyphosphate, 0.5 part by weight of ascorbic acid, 0.2 part by weightof sodium nitrite, and 68.8 parts by weight of water were mixed togetherand dissolved to prepare a pickle solution. One part by weight of thepickle solution was so slowly injected into nine parts by weight of porkspareribs as to be penetrated uniformly. The resultant was smoked in ausual manner to produce bacon for promoting mineral absorption. Aftersmoked, it was left in an ambient temperature overnight, and sliced. Thesliced bacon was vacuumized and preserved at 10° C. Since cyclictetrasaccharide promotes the absorption of minerals taken from theproduct or other foods and beverages, the product is used forstrengthening bones of humans on a low-mineral diet. Further, theproduct is advantageously used alone or as a raw material for treatingor preventing diseases including lifestyle-related diseases caused bylack of minerals such as osteoporosis and metabolic disorders, and as afeed or pet food for animals requiring mineral supplements.

EXAMPLE 23 Beverage Containing Mineral

Twenty-five parts by weight of sugar, five parts by weight oflactosucrose, 4.64 parts by weight of xanthane gum, 4.0 parts by weightof locust bean gum, 3.4 parts by weight of taragum, 1.7 parts by weightof psyllium seed gum, 1.2 parts by weight of ascorbic acid, 1.2 parts byweight of sodium chloride, 1.2 parts by weight of citric acid(crystalline), 0.12 part by weight of sodium citrate, 0.12 part byweight of potassium chloride, 0.5 part by weight of calcium lactate,0.03 part by weight of magnesium sulfate, 0.05 part by weight ofsucralose, perfumery, and 50 parts by weight of the accelerator,prepared in Example 2, were mixed together homogeneously. Eight parts byweight of the resulting mixture were dissolved in 92 parts by weight ofwater to produce a mineral drink in a gel form. Since cyclictetrasaccharide and lactosucrose promote the absorption of mineralstaken from the product or other foods and beverages, the product isadvantageously used for efficiently supplementing minerals and moistureduring sporting. Since the product is a gel form without concerning toenter the trachea differing from the case of water, it is alsoadvantageously used for supplementing moisture and minerals againstpatients with dysphagia, aged people and children. In addition, theproduct is lowered in bitter taste of minerals and aftertaste of sucroseand sucralose, and is a flavorful beverage with its improved preference.

EXAMPLE 24 Bittern

One hundred and forty-four parts by weight of the accelerator in a syrupform, prepared in Example 2, and 202 parts by weight of a commercializedbittern (produced by Sanuki Salt Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Kagawa, Japan)were mixed together and completely dissolved by heating at 70° C. Theresultant was concentrated in vacuo to produce a solution having a solidcontent of 63%. Since cyclic tetrasaccharide promotes the absorption ofminerals taken from the product or other foods and beverages, it isadvantageously used as a raw material for sport drink, health food, orfood for aged people or patients. It can be used as a solidifier forsoybean curd, other foods and beverages, cosmetics, quasi-drugs,pharmaceuticals or feeds.

EXAMPLE 25 Multivitamin Preparation

Five parts by weight of retinol palmitate, five parts by weight ofergocalciferol, 10 parts by weight of fursultiamine hydrochloride, fiveparts by weight of riboflavin, 10 parts by weight of pyridoxinechloride, 60 parts by weight of ascorbic acid, 10 parts by weight oftocopherol acetate, 30 parts by weight of nicotinamide, 0.01 part byweight of cyanocobalamin, and 40 parts be weight of calcium pantothenatewere mixed by stirring. One part by weight of the resulting mixture wasadmixed with 24 parts by weight of the accelerator in a powder form,prepared in Example A-5, by stirring, and tableted by a tablet machineto produce a multivitamin preparation. Since cyclic tetrasaccharidepromotes absorption of minerals taken from the product or other foodsand beverages, the product with lowered in drug smell characteristic tovitamins is used for strengthening bones of humans on a low-mineraldiet. Further, the product is advantageously used alone or as a rawmaterial for treating or preventing diseases including lifestyle-relateddiseases caused by lack of minerals such as osteoporosis and metabolicdisorders, and as a feed or pet food for animals requiring mineralsupplements. In addition, the product is lowered in unpleasant tasteand/or unpleasant smell including drug smell characteristic to vitaminsand inhibited in the oxidation or decomposition, and an easily-eatablevitamin preparation without hygroscopicity even after preserved in along period.

EXAMPLE 26 Tablet for Promoting Mineral Absorption

Two hundreds parts by weight of γ-oryzanol, 650 parts by weight of theaccelerator containing crystalline pentahydrous cyclic tetrasaccharide,prepared by the method in Example 3, 50 parts by weight ofglycosyl-transferred hesperidin, four parts by weight of calciumcarbonate, and two parts by weight of magnesium stearate were mixedtogether, and tableted in a usual manner to produce a tablet containing250 mg per tablet. Since cyclic tetrasaccharide and glycosyl-transferredhesperidin promote the absorption of minerals taken from the product orother foods and beverages to strengthen calcium-containing tissues, theproduct is used for strengthening bones of humans on a low-mineral diet.Further, the product is advantageously used alone or as a raw materialfor treating or preventing diseases including lifestyle-related diseasescaused by lack of minerals such as osteoporosis and metabolic disorders,and as a feed or pet food for animals requiring mineral supplements.

EXAMPLE 27 Tablet Containing Minerals

Seventy-five parts by weight of precipitated calcium carbonate, threeparts by weight of ferrous fumarate, 12 parts by weight of magnesiumcarbonate, three parts by weight of tocopherol acetate, five parts byweight of ascorbic acid, 200 parts by weight of the acceleratorcontaining crystalline pentahydrous cyclic tetrasaccharide, prepared bythe method in Example 3, one part by weight of sugar ester, were mixedhomogeneously and tableted in a usual manner to produce a tabletcontaining 250 mg per tablet. Since cyclic tetrasaccharide promotes theabsorption of minerals taken from the product or other foods andbeverages to strengthen calcium-containing tissues, the product with alowered bitter taste of minerals is used for strengthening bones ofhumans on a low-mineral diet. Further, the product is advantageouslyused for treating or preventing diseases including lifestyle-relateddiseases caused by lack of minerals such as osteoporosis and metabolicdisorders, and as a feed or pet food for animals requiring mineralsupplements.

EXAMPLE 28 Mineral Preparation

Seventy-five parts by weight of precipitated calcium carbonate, threeparts by weight of ferrous fumarate, 12 parts by weight of magnesiumcarbonate, 0.2 part by weight of zinc acetate, 0.01 part by weight ofmanganese carbonate, 0.001 part by weight of sodium selenate, five partsby weight of ascorbic acid 2-glucoside, one part by weight ofglycosyl-transferred rutin, 200 parts by weight of the acceleratorcontaining crystalline pentahydrous cyclic tetrasaccharide, prepared inExample 3, were mixed homogeneously to produce a mineral preparation.Since cyclic tetrasaccharide promotes the absorption of minerals takenfrom the product or other foods and beverages to strengthencalcium-containing tissues, the product with lowered foreign taste andsmell including bitter taste, metal taste and metal smell of mineralsincluding calcium, iron and magnesium is used alone or optionally aftertableted for strengthening bones of humans on a low-mineral diet.Further, the product is advantageously used alone or as a raw materialfor treating or preventing diseases including lifestyle-related diseasescaused by lack of minerals such as osteoporosis and metabolic disorders,and as a feed or pet food for animals requiring mineral supplements.

EXAMPLE 29 Drink Supplemented with Vitamins and Minerals

0.15 part by weight of a mixture containing 10 parts by weight ofthiamine nitrate, five parts by weight of riboflavin, 10 parts by weightof pyridoxine hydrochloride, 55 parts by weight of ascorbic acid2-glucoside (produced by Hayashibara Biochemical Laboratories, Inc.,Okayama, Japan), 30 parts by weight of nicotinamide, 0.01 part by weightof cyanocobalamin and 40 parts by weight of calcium pantothenate, onepart by weight of aminoethylsulfonic acid, 0.1 part by weight of acommercialized bittern (produced by Sanuki Salt Manufacturing Co., Ltd.,Kagawa, Japan), 0.01 part by weight of acesulfame-K, and five parts byweight of the accelerator containing crystalline pentahydrous cyclictetrasaccharide, prepared by the method in Example 3, were dissolved in93.7 parts by weight of purified water by stirring to produce a beveragesupplemented with vitamins and minerals. Since cyclic tetrasaccharidepromotes the absorption of minerals taken from the product or otherfoods and beverages, the product with lowered bitter tastes and drugsmells is used for strengthening bones of humans on a low-mineral diet.Further, it is advantageously used for treating or preventing diseasesincluding lifestyle-related diseases caused by lack of minerals such asosteoporosis and metabolic disorders, and as a feed or pet food foranimals requiring mineral supplements.

EXAMPLE 30 Mixed Feed for Promoting Mineral-Absorption

Thirty parts by weight of wheat bran, 35 parts by weight of skim milk,10 parts by weight of rice bran, 10 parts by weight of a powderabundantly containing lactosucrose, 10 parts by weight of multivitamin,five parts by weight of fish meal, five parts by weight of dicalciumphosphate, three parts by weight of calcium carbonate, three parts byweight of oil, two parts by weight of magnesium acetate, one part byweight of glycosyl-transferred rutin, two parts by weight of sodiumchloride, 0.001 part by weight of cobalt sulfate, 0.001 part by weightof ammonium molybdate, and five parts by weight of the accelerator in asyrup form, prepared by the method in Example 2, were mixed together toproduce a mixed feed for promoting mineral absorption. Since cyclictetrasaccharide, saccharide derivatives thereof and glycosyl-transferredrutin promote the absorption of minerals taken from the product or otherfoods and beverages, the product is preferably used as a feed foranimals such as domestic animals, domestic fowls and pets, requiringmineral supplements, particularly, it is useful as a feed for a piglet.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention relates to an accelerator for mineral absorption,containing cyclic tetrasaccharide composed of glucose as a constituentsaccharide and/or saccharide derivatives thereof as an effectiveingredient, and a composition containing the accelerator for promotingmineral absorption, which are used for promoting mineral absorption inanimals including humans. Further, since these cyclic tetrasaccharideand/or saccharide derivatives thereof are safely taken orally and have asatisfactory stability, the accelerator containing such cyclictetrasaccharide and/or saccharide derivatives thereof as effectiveingredients can be used in various fields such as foods, beverages,cosmetics, quasi-drugs and pharmaceuticals. The present invention withsuch an outstanding function and effect is a significant invention thatwill greatly contribute to this art.

1. An accelerator for mineral absorption, which comprises as aneffective ingredient cyclic tetrasaccharide represented bycyclo{→6)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→}and/or a saccharide derivative thereof.
 2. The accelerator of claim 1,which comprises one or more members selected from the group consistingof mineral compounds and substances having a mineral absorptionpromoting action.
 3. The accelerator of claim 1, which comprises one ormore members selected from the group consisting of monosaccharides,oligosaccharides, sugar alcohols, cyclodextrins, vitamins, water-solublepolysaccharides, spices, acidifiers, delicious taste impartingseasoning, liquors, organic acids, non-organic acids, emulsifiers,perfumeries and colorants.
 4. The accelerator of claim 2, wherein saidmineral compound is one or more members selected from the groupconsisting of calcium compounds, magnesium compounds, potassiumcompounds, sodium compounds, iron compounds, manganese compounds, cobaltcompounds, copper compounds, zinc compounds, selenium compounds,fluorine compounds and iodine compounds.
 5. The accelerator of claim 2,wherein said substance having a mineral absorption promoting action, isone or more members selected from the group consisting of caseinphosphopeptide, vitamin, polyphenol and oligosaccharide.
 6. Theaccelerator of claim 5, wherein said vitamin is one or more membersselected from the group consisting of vitamin D, vitamin K, L-ascorbicacid and derivatives thereof.
 7. The accelerator of claim 5, whereinsaid polyphenol is one or more members selected from the groupconsisting of flavonoids, catechin and epigallocatechin.
 8. Theaccelerator of claim 5, wherein said oligosaccharide is one or moremembers selected from the group consisting of fractooligosaccharide,isomaltooligosaccharide, xylooligosaccharide, lactosucrose, soybeanoligosaccharide, kojioligosaccharode, galactosylglucoside, saccharidederivative of α,α-trehalose, α,α-trehalose and/or α,β-trehalose.
 9. Theaccelerator of claim 1, which comprises said cyclic tetrasacchariderepresented bycyclo{→6)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→}and/or said saccharide derivative thereof in an amount of 0.1% by weightor more, on a dry solid basis.
 10. The accelerator of claim 1, which isused as an agent for strengthening calcium-containing tissue.
 11. Theaccelerator of claim 1, which is used as an agent for strengtheningbone.
 12. The accelerator of claim 1, which is used as an agent forlowering foreign taste and/or foreign smell.
 13. A composition whichcomprises cyclic tetrasaccharide represented bycyclol{→6)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→6)-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3-α-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→}and/or a saccharide derivative thereof, and one or more members selectedfrom the group consisting of mineral compounds and substances having amineral absorption promoting action.
 14. The composition of claim 13,which comprises one or more members selected from the group consistingof monosaccharides, oligosaccharides, sugar alcohols, cyclodextrins,vitamins, water-soluble polysaccharides, spices, acidifiers, delicioustaste imparting seasoning, liquors, organic acids, non-organic acids,emulsifiers, perfumeries and colorants.